Sunday, September 28, 2014

Langley 7 Vernon 4

For anyone who could not attend or watch today’s Vipers game here are my thoughts and views from today’s game. You may agree or disagree but we all have our own view and opinion on any game we watch. This is my opinion and my thoughts on how I saw today’s game. I try to be unbiased and give a fare recap on both sides. Thanks for stopping by & visiting my blog.

I was at this afternoon's Vipers-Rivermen game as Langley defeated Vernon 7-4 in front of 1,298 fans at Kal Tire Place.

Starting Goaltenders:

Vernon: Jarrod Schamerhorn
Langley: Darren Martin

1st Period: The Vipers would get a great opportunity early to open the scoring, just under three minutes into the contest Jake Emilio's point shot was kicked out by Darren Martin before Luke Voltin jumped on the rebound in front missed the net from in close. On that shift Vernon would get the games first powerplay of the afternoon. With just one Vernon shot the Rivermen were able to kill off the penalty. Langley has a big team and used their weight laying out some checks early and often through out the opening period as well as had a few players trying to get under the skin of several Vipers. The Vipers showed more speed and skill up front created several scoring chances but couldnt hit the net missing on some good opportunities. Thomas Aldworth setup Trevor Fidler on a Viper odd man rush but Fidler couldnt find the back of the net from in close. In the second half the Rivermen would get their first look with the man advantage but couldnt capitalize as both teams went 0-1 on the PP. Late in the frame the Vipers lost the puck battle inside their own zone, allowing Zac Masson to setup Jacob Zeleznikar who ripped a wicked shot topshlef upstairs past Jarrod Schamerhorn giving Langley a 1-0 lead at 16:32 Masson & Brendan Gulka picked up the assists. With two minutes remaining Blaine Caton tried splitting the Rivermen defence going in for the parcial breakaway before William Campion come up with a huge defensive play taking the puck away from the Viper forward. The Rivermen were up 1-0 after 20 minutes of play. The Vipers had their legs going in the opening period really used their speed and skill created several scoring chances but couldnt hit the net. Langley played a fairly physical period also looked to get under the skin of the Vipers. I thought Vernon had a slight edge in play, definitely had the better scoring chances. The Rivermen are a hard working team that didnt generate alot of chances in the period but were up a goal. Vernon outshot Langley 8-7.

2nd Period: The Vipers would get an early powerplay but really struggle getting in the Langley zone. Vernon had all kinds of troubles getting the puck through the neutral zone recorded just one shot looked very disorganized with the man advantage, as the Rivermen killed off the penalty. The Vipers looked very disorganized and scrambly couldnt seem to get much of anything going. Actually neither team looked that great to start the second period. The Vipers did get a great chance to tie the game after Thomas Aldworth's breakaway missed the net on another missed opportunity. Vernon would finally get on the board scoring their first goal at home this season after Riley Brandt's hard work paid off finding the back of the net tied the game at 6:37 Branden Wagner and Mitchell Oliver collected the helpers. On the following shift Liam Coughlin couldnt hit the net on a Viper odd man rush as Vernon was having troubles hitting the net in back to back home games. The Vipers come up with atleast three or four good opportunities in close but once again didnt have the finish missing the net. Shortly after Gage Torrel went in for a parcial breakaway/Rivermen two on one but looked to lose the handle on the puck before Vipers starting goaltender Jarrod Schamerhorn was able to make the save smothering the puck. Langley struggled offensively had just one shot at one point during the period in atleast six or seven minutes. Thomas Aldworth with a great opportunity was alone at the side of the net on the goal line had Darren Martin down and out somehow missed shooting high and over the empty Langley net. Tempers heated up after the Rivermen thought a Viper player shot the puck towards Langley starting goaltender Darren Martin after the whistle wich drew a large crowd, as players started pushing and shoving the small scrum formed into the corner before the scrum was broken up. Vernon would lose Kenny Citron while the Rivermen would lose Brendan Gulka as both players were given ten minute misconducts. The Vipers would grab their first lead of the afternoon, Thomas Aldworth streaking down the left wing ripped a wicked wrist shot past Darren Martin giving Vernon a 2-1 lead at 14:05 Aldworth's goal was unassisted. For the second straight period Langley didnt show much offensive threat getting just six shots on goal this period. Vernon would get into penalty trouble in the final minutes and it cost them as the Rivermen with two late goals took the lead into the third. Kevan Kilistoff with a wicked wrist shot from the circle looked to go post and in past Schamerhorn tying the game 2-2 at 19:29 Will Cook with the lone helper. On the play the Vipers were getting a penalty, inwich the Rivermen would head right back to the powerplay. Just seventeen seconds later Gage Torrel put Langley up 3-2 at 19:46 Marcus Vela and Will Cook picked up the assists. Langley with a 3-2 lead after 40 minutes of play. Vernon looked very disorganized and scrambly off the start of the period. Struggled with the man advantage, had all kinds of troubles getting through the neutral zone and into the Rivermen end. Vernon would score twice to take their first lead of the day before giving up two late goals in the final two minutes to once again fall down by a goal. The Vipers with a few good opportunities once again couldnt hit the net. Langley like the opening period didnt show alot of skill but managed to score twice on just six shots were up a goal looking for their first win of the season. The Vipers outshot the Rivermen 9-6.

3rd Period: In the opening minute Eric Udahl with back to back opportunities couldnt beat Jarrod Schamerhorn. Udahl was stopped at the side of the net before being stopped from the high slot. Schamerhorn with two big stops early. After a lackluster 2nd period the Vipers responded with the games tying goal early to start the 3rd. Mackenzie Bauer at 2:02 tied the game 3-3 Trevor Fidler and Thomas Aldworth with the assists. But just over four minutes later Brendan Gulka gave Langley their third lead of the afternoon at 6:14 William Campion's point shot missed the goal come off the back boards right to Gulka at the side of the net on a lucky break for the Rivermen. Campion & Marcus Vela with the assists. Once again Vernon responded with a quick hard working shift thirty nine seconds later. Jagger Williamson setup Liam Coughlin going to the net beat Martin tied the game at 4-4 at 6:53 Williamson with the lone helper. Shortly after Darren Martin come way out of his crease to get the loose puck, Martin's pass went off Ayden MacDonald headed back towards the open cage before a Rivermen d-man was able to clear the front of the net on a close call. The Vipers with two close calls after Thomas Aldworth couldnt beat Martin who flashed the leather with a quick glove save. Once again the Rivermen would re-take the lead after Brendan Gulka's second goal of the game at 12:08 Jordan Schneider and Jacob Zeleznikar with the assists. From here on in the Rivermen did a great job at bottling up the Vipers in their own end as Vernon's defence was having all kinds of trouble against the bigger/stronger forwards from Langley. The Rivermen with a very aggressive and strong forechek were winning most of the battles and puck wars along the boards. Langley did a great job at winding down the clock and in the second half the Vipers just didnt have the gas left in the tank to build any kind of momentum. The Vipers playing their third game in as many days looked sluggish, didnt show the speed they have couldnt generate much offensive threat. Langley would basically put the game away after Will Cook found the back of the net on another Rivermen hard working shift. Cook's goal at 16:11 was unassisted. Vernon would call a timeout with 1:53 remaining before getting Jarrod Schamerhorn to the bench for the extra attacker. Vernon with pressure in the Langley zone couldnt muster much before the Rivermen missed two shots at the empty net. Marcus Vela would eventually seal the win for Langley with an empty netter at 19:47 Hunter Anderson with the lone assist. The Langley Rivermen would come into Vernon and pick up their first win of the regular season 7-4. A wild start to the 3rd with both teams going back and fourth exchaging goals before the bigger/stronger Rivermen put the game away with four goals in the period. The Vipers tried keeping pace with Langley but couldnt hold off the Rivermen forecheck down low. Vernon with too many turnovers in their own end struggled defensively this afternoon. Langley really worked hard using their size and strength worked the Vipers along the boards, won most of the battles eating away several minutes off the clock were able to wear down Vernon. Langley outshot the Vipers 13-10.

Top Players: (Vernon)

Thomas Aldworth (1 goal & 1 assist) Was by far Vernon's best performer today. This kid is big, can skate and stick handle. Really turns up the speed in a hurry and makes things happen quickly. Created and generated several opportunities today. If your an opponent Aldworth is the kid you want to have your eyes on every shift hes on the ice.

Riley Brandt (1 goal) Was the Vipers hardest working player, like a buzsaw took a few big hits but stood on his feet and didnt back down. Plays with alot of heart and never quits skatings.

Game Thought's: (Vernon)

I thought the Vipers looked fairly good in the opening period, were really skating hard created some scoring chances but like last night couldnt hit the net or find the back of the net. Vernon missed some good chances in both the 1st and 2nd periods. The Vipers didnt get alot of shots in period one but I thought carried the better of the play at times and had the better of the chances. The Vipers struggled in the 2nd period, looked very disorganized and scrambly through out the period managed to score twice to take the lead but got into penalty trouble in the final few minutes gave up two late powerplay goals were down by one heading into the 3rd. Give Vernon credit they responded well to start the third scored early to tie the game but just couldnt hold off the Rivermen as both teams exchanged goals back and fourth before Langley iced the game with four third period goals. I thought Vernon's defence struggled in their own end, too many turnovers, lost the battles down low, blown man coverage in front and on the points had troubles getting out of their own end at times and into the attacking zone. I didnt think the Vipers passing was all that great today, several missed passes. Wasnt as crisp as it has been through out the pre-season and at the start of the regular season. Looking at this weekend I had to wonder why the Vipers were forced to play today's game with the Rivermen having the entire week-weekend off before today's game? Vernon played a hard fought home and home series with West Kelowna comes into today's game playing three games in three days while the Rivermen are well rested licking their chops. Vernon looked tired and it showed as the 3rd period went on, the Vipers just didnt have any gas left in the tank to finish the game. Vernon's last win over Langley was was a 5-1 victory on January 30th 2010.

Top Players: (Langley)

Gage Torrel (1 goal) Played a strong game on the Rivermen backend. I thought was one of if not their best d-man this afternoon. Was good at both ends of the rink, was involved in the play.

Jacob Zeleznikar (1 goal & 1 assist) Also looked good on the Langley blueline. Opened the scoring late in the 1st with a wicked wrist shot from the slot.

Brendan Gulka (2 goals & 1 assist) Scored twice in the third was also a pest, getting under the skin of several Vipers and even their fans. Gulka was taunting the Viper faithfull behind the penalty box while serving his penalty. Played a rough/physical game.

Kevan Kilistoff (1 goal) Looked good up front for the Langley Rivermen.

Eric Udahl I thought was a real energy player for the Rivermen, quick on his feet created a few opportunities worked and skated hard through out the game.

Will Cook (1 goal & 2 assists) The veteran forward recorded three points in the 7-4 victory used his size to his advantage in and around the Viper net.

Ryan Coulter & Zac Masson (1 assist) Were big super pests for Langley today. Both kids looked to try and get under the skin of the Vipers this afternoon. Both yapping at any Viper they had the chance with, were both involved in the after the whistle activities.

Game Thought's (Langley)

The Rivermen pick up their first win of the season and their 8th straight win over the Vipers. Langley who has been off since last weekend's BCHL Showcase come into Kal Tire Place today along with Surrey as the two lone teams without a win. Langley has a very big, physical, aggressive team uses their weight. The Rivermen were hard to knock off the puck or beat down low/along the boards. Langley dosnt have alot of offensive threat but really works hard, plays with an edge, a little chippy at times has a very strong forecheck, won most of the battles today earned the win. The Rivermen didnt really generate or create many scoring chances but capitalized on their chances. Give this team credit they were fully rested were able to catch the Vipers playing their third game in as many days head home with the win.

1990 & 1991 Vernon Lakers Inducted Into Okanagan Sports Hall Of Fame

The 1969-70 & 1971-72 Vernon Essos were inducted into the Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame in November 2014

1999 Vernon Vipers Inducted Into BC Hockey Hall Of Fame

The 1999 Vernon Vipers were inducted into the BC Hockey Hall of Fame In July 2016

On December 2nd 2017 the Vernon Vipers honoured the 1956 Vernon Canadians and former Vernon Esso's legend Wayne Dye. The 1956 Vernon Canadians Allen Cup banner along side Wayne Dye's #8 Legends banner were raised to the rafters at Kal Tire Place

Kal Tire Place-Home to the Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame

The Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1982 through the vision of Vernon resident and sports enthusiast, Nick Alexis. With the support of Vernon City Council, Alexis and a dedicated group of volunteers created a series of outdoor exhibits celebrating the region’s dynamic sporting history in Vernon’s Cenotaph Park. That same year, the new organization unveiled its first round of inductees to the Hall of Fame. Several years later, in 2001, the Hall of Fame moved its exhibits into the newly constructed Vernon Multiplex now known as Kal Tire Place.

About Me

I first created this blog in November of 2008. This coming season will be my ninth season doing this blog. I was born and raised in Vernon, BC and have been going to Junior Hockey games in Vernon since I was a young child. I purchased my first set of season tickets in 1990
I have had season tickets for the last 26 years, Since 1990 I have missed 42 home games.
In September of 2009 I missed my first home game since 2002-03 wich my streak of 236 straight Vipers home games came to an end. Ive missed just three Vipers home games since the 1998-1999 season.
I worked with the Vipers back in 2003-04 as colour comentator helping out with a few games over the internet. In 2011 I helped deisgn, create and put together the Vipers new website for the 2011-12 season. I ran and updated the Vipers website for five seasons, keeping all staff bios and pictures updated, adding new game photos, doing a game preview on game days, as well as adding any Vipers news, scores or BCHL news through out the season.
Over the years I have travelled to Victoria, Dauphin & Camrose to watch the Vipers in the RBC Cup. I was also at the 1990 Centennial Cup & 2014 RBC Cup in Vernon.